Lid knob



oct. 14; 1941. J R MORGAN 2,259,077

LID KNOB l Filed June 15, 1959 Patented Oct. 14, 1941 )invii-sn smr- ESATE Lm KNOB l John R. Morgan, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Sears,

, Roebuck and Co., j cfNeWYork j Chicago,A I1l.a corporation applicati@.muela 1939, serial No. 279,275

(o1. 1li-.4121)v Y V3 Claims.

This inventionpertains to handles' or knobs and lis concerned moreparticularly. with, al# though notlimited to, lids for pots such ascoffee pots, pans and the like.

It is an object' o'f my invention to provide a knob mounted in suchy amanner as to be readily grasped by thethumb and one or more fingerswithout subjecting them to the heat of the part on which the knob ismounted.

It is another object to provide a knob which, when mounted in place,does not project from the lid or the like support sufliciently to catchon the clothing.

A further object is to provide a knob of the character referred to somounted that it is readily grasped to move the member on which the knobis mounted and at the same time protect from excessive heat the handgrasping the knob and minimize likelihood of catching the clothing onthe knob.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as thedescription proceeds.

The invention will be better understood upon reference to the followingdescription and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a lid or other support providedwith a knob constructed in accordance with one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantially asindicated by the line 2 2 in Fig. 1.

Fig, 3 is a side view, partly in section and partly in elevation, takenas indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, part of the knob support beingomitted.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is shown a supportIIJ such as a lid for a coffee pot, pan or other article, and to the lidis secured a knob I I constructed in accordance with one form of theinvention. The lid. I is formed with a depression I3 which may bedisposed centrally or elsewhere thereon and may be spherical as shown orin any other desired shape. Preferably at the base I4 of the depression,there is Welded or otherwise suitably secured an anchor stud I5 having ap-referably threaded shank I1 extending away from the bottom I4. Theknob II preferably lines the depression and has a skirt I8 comprisingspaced skirt-like sections I9 and anl intervening preferably diametralhandle 20 which may project outwardly beyond the mouth or rim 2I Iof theskirt. 'I'he height of the handle 2U from the base 23 is suflicientlygreat to enable said handle to be conveniently and firmly grasped by apersons thumb and finger or ngers so that the lid or other memberon'which the handle is secured may be easily manipulated.

The portion of the handle 20 projecting outward- Y ly lmay beofanysuitable shape, but preferably itis rounded asshownparticularly in Fig.3 Ito substantially. merge as at 25 with the adjacent top surface26 ofthelid or other support I0, so

as to preclude catching of clothingl on the lid.

Such danger exists in prior lid constructions.

A nut 30 is secured in the knob and is threaded to receive the anchoringshank Il, and is readily threaded on the latter and adapted to besecurely retained in the depression I3 by virtue of the frictionalengagement between the knob and said depression. This frictionalengagement is made possible by the provision of depending preferablyannular ribs 32 and 33 on the knob. These ribs are separated by apreferably relatively large air space 35, and the rib 32 is formed toclearI the stud I5, as at 36. The ribs 32 and 33 are of such curvaturethat they firmly and frictionally engage the depression I3 at the sametime when the knob is threaded home. The pitch of the threads ispreferably low and the cooperating parts, while stii, may yieldresiliently sufficiently to enhance the holding power of the ribs in thedepression. 'Ihe handle portion 20 is preferably relatively flat notonly for convenience in grasping but for convenience in rotating theknob into place, and its sides may be roughened to improve the grip.

The knob being deta'chable, it is apparent that it may be readilyreplaced.

The lid l0 or the like is usually made of metal because of its desirableheat conducting qualities, but the knob is preferably molded of a heatinsulating material of a phenolic condensation or resinous product orother suitable material. The areas 32 and 33 are merely suiciently greatto provide the proper hold or lock for the knob, the spaces 35 and 36accordingly being as great as possible so as to minimize heatconduction. Accordingly, a lid carrying a knob constructed in accordancewith my invention will remain at approximately room temperaturenotwithstanding the relatively high temperature of the lid.

It is obvious that I have provided a construction which is not onlydesirable from an appearance standpoint but is easily manufactured atlow cost, may be readily secured and replaced, is durable, enables thelid to be moved about with comfort notwithstanding the high temperatureof the lid, minimizes catching of clothing and the like and is generallysuitable for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Various modiiications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do notwish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned,except to the extent indicated in the appended claims, Which are to beinterpreted as broadly as the state of the art will per mit.

I claim:

1. In a support having a depression, a knob of heat insulating materialformed for securexnent to said depression, said knob having a skirtshaped in general conformity with said depression, said skirt havingspaced apart portions engageable with said depression, the interveningspace aording heat insulation between said skirt and said depression,said knob having a handle portion projecting from said skirtsufriciently to enable said handle to be rmly grasped between the thumband finger, said skirt .termin-l ating substantially at the rim of saiddepression when said knob is secured in` said depression.

2. In a support having adepressioma knob` of heat insulating materialsecured to said.support and havinga skirt shaped in` general 'conformitywith said depression, said skirt having spaced apart portions engageablewith said depression, the intervening, space aiording heat` insulationbetween said skirt and said depression, said knob having a diametralhandle portion connected substantially throughout its length to saidskirt and projecting suiciently to enable said handle to be rrnlygrasped between the thumb and forenger, said handle projecting outwardlyof said depression and being of slightly rounded contour substantiallymerging at its ends With the adjacent surface of said support at saidrim.

3. In a support having a depression, a knob of f heat insulatingmaterial formed for securement to said depression, said knob having askirt shaped in general conformity with said depression, said skirthaving an inner portion spaced from said depression, said spaceaffording heat insulation between said skirt and said depression, saidskirt outwardly of said space substantially continuously engaging saiddepression so as to substantially prevent escape of hot air from saidspace, said knob having a handle portion projecting from said skirtsufliciently to enable said handle to be rmly grasped between the thumband fore finger, said skirt leffectively shielding the thumb andforenger from heat from the portion of said support disposed belowsaidthumb and forenger when said knob is secured in said depres- JOHN R.MORGAN.

